Community

The Best Podcast Apps for Android

Jon Stone|
updated 12 Jan 2018 21:46

Whether you listen on your work commute, stream podcasts at the gym or use them as a relaxing end to your day, podcasts
are a great way to catch up on news, learn a new skill or hear from your favorite celebrities.

With the sheer number of podcasts out there, keeping track of your favorites or discovering new options can be difficult.
Fortunately, Android offers some outstanding podcast apps to help you out.

When choosing the best apps, we considered the overall selection of podcasts, ease of use and advanced features--such
as playback speed adjustment, importing playlists and cloud synchronization.

So which
podcast app for Android
is the best? Let’s check out the options!

CastBox
Editor's Pick

As one of the newer apps on the podcast scene, CastBox's free pricing includes a feature set
that rivals some of the best paid apps out there. It's managed to scoop some pretty big awards since its debut, including a Google Play Best of 2017 award.

The only major limitation we found to the free version is a subscription limit. However, at 100 subscriptions, it's plenty generous and enough for many users.

Where the app really shines is podcast discovery. You’ll find more than 500 topics filled with suggestions on what to
listen to next. There’s also the ability to search for podcasts similar to one you already love.

All of this is presented in a simple, Material Design interface that will have you up and running in no time!

Where the app really shines is podcast discovery. You’ll find more than 500 topics filled with suggestions on what to
listen to next. There’s also the ability to search for podcasts similar to one you already love.

All of this is presented in a simple, Material Design interface that will have you up and running in no time!

Podcast and Radio Addict

Where other apps focus purely on podcasts, Podcast and Radio Addict combines streaming of all types to create a central
hub for audio on your Android device.

You’ll find support for live streaming radio stations, audiobooks and YouTube as well as a powerful podcast manager.
Features include playback speed adjustment, silence elimination and auto-downloading of new episodes.

There’s a free option available if you don’t mind a small banner ad at the bottom of your screen. If you’d prefer,
you can donate to remove the ads.

While relatively new to Google Play, this app will one to keep an eye on as it grows. The main reason it wasn’t the
top pick for this list is it’s size and memory requirements. All of those extra features come at the cost of
storage space and resources.

Stitcher Radio

Stitcher takes a different approach to podcasts than other apps on this list. That likely means you’ll either love
it or hate it.

You create virtual stations or categories and fill them with your favorite podcasts. You can also add RSS feeds from
other news sources with audio and video.

Once you’re done, hit play and it will weave your podcasts together to recreate the classic AM talk radio experience.
You can even set it to create breaks for the latest news or other information between show episodes.

It supports most major podcast features, including playback speed adjustment and offline playback, as well as full
support for both Chromecast and Android Auto.

If you’re looking for an easy way to enjoy podcasts without having to constantly queue the next episode, Stitcher
Radio is an interesting take on the concept.

Verdict

Combining value, design and ease of use, CastBox is the hands-down winner for this list. Its free version rivals some premium offerings on the market, while the small subscription fee opens up limitations for podcast power listeners. It even allows recording.

The app simply covers all the bases.

Top it all off with synchronizing across multiple devices and web access and you have the perfect tool for consuming
your favourite podcasts whenever and however you want.

Your Turn

Did we miss one of your favourite apps? Looking for a feature you can’t find in one of these? Let us know in the
comments below!

If you found this app round-up helpful, please take a minute to share it with your friends or drop a link on your
social accounts. You’ll help others discover great apps and let us know what kind of content you’d like to see
on the site!

P.S.
If you love listening to podcasts, you should consider picking up
a pair of bluetooth headphones
. There’s no wires, so you don’t have to worry about getting tangled up
on your morning jog. Most will even let you control playback or pause a podcast to take a quick phone call.
We’ve rounded up
reviews
from the best sites on the web to help you find the best options quickly and easily!

No problem! The competition is definitely heating up for Pocket Casts. With the new found popularity of the podcast format, it'll be really interesting to see how apps progress and what this list looks like next year.
I'm not sure how much they can add to the apps without them becoming bloaty monstrosities, but apps never cease to amaze me when it comes to finding new ways to improve the user experience and shed new light on old things.

I've being looking for a nice podcast app for a good couple of weeks, having a roundup like this is a great way to start, I'll take a look at the free ones first and if it doesn't fit my needs I'll take a look at Pocket Casts.

Nice roundup. Pocket Casts is a definite winner! An honorable mention I'll throw into the ring is TuneIn Radio which has decent podcast functionality and of course an amazing breadth of other live radio listening.

We want you to know that The Informr is an independent resource. While we aim to provide
you with the most accurate information and keep things up to date, prices and terms of products
and services can change. We encourage you to always do your own research and double check the
terms. Using the information on this site is at your own risk and without warranty.

You should also know that in some cases, we may receive compensation when you click on links or
purchase through links on this site. This is at no extra cost to you. It lets us operate the
business and keep the service free for everyone. Here's
How We Make Money.